France is very hard Past Review
By Rachel S (Neurobiology, Neurosciences and French, Wartburg College) - abroad from 01/14/2016 to 04/29/2016 with
IES Abroad: Nice Direct Enrollment - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis
It was definitely worth it. It was the hardest experience of my life. I learned that I actually love American culture. I was not one of the people who loved their host culture and never wanted to leave. I was very ready to go home at the end of the semester. That being said, I don't regret doing it and I grew so much from enduring life in a culture that was much more different than I expected.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were very difficult and the French way of education is very hard to adjust to. Resources were few and far between |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I did not have luck with my host home. She took progressively less and less care of me as the semester went on. |
| * Food: |
The food in France in general is great, but the food my host home gave me was not. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Direct enrolling to a French university comes with a slew of problems that no one will fix for you. It is infuriating. I don't regret my decision to direct enroll because it gave me the opportunity to integrate into the French student culture and see a completely different perspective on education and science that I wouldn't have gotten in an international French language program, but I wouldn't do it again. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $30 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | French culture is very different from Midwestern American culture. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
